the country, and its central position at one time secured for it a considerable Boer trade. There was also a large native custom, due to its being the most northerly town of any importance in South Africa. Previous to the war Pretoria was occupied almost entirely by Englishmen and Germans, with a small sprinkling of Hollanders (as the Dutch are called in South Africa). Immediately after the peace there was a large exodus of the European population. Thanks also to the restrictive trade enactments of the Boer Volksraad (or Parliament), and the insecure protection afforded by the Boer Government, its trade has fallen off, and the place is now comparatively deserted.

Potchefstroom, the next town of importance, lies further south. It is situated on the Mooi River, a clear, pellucid stream, running into the Vaal. It is one of the most charming places in the "up-country " of South Africa. The streets are wide, and the erven, or blocks, into which the town is divided, are unusually large. Trees grow all over the place, and the houses and stores are dotted down at intervals among them. The chief drawback is a large swamp, the haunt of aquatic birds, which lies on one side of the town. Potchefstroom was the original capital of the South African Republic. It is more Dutch than Pretoria, which, previous to the war, was essentially an English

town.

The other places are really villages. Lydenburg and Wakkerstroom are near the eastern frontier. They are both at a high level above the sea. Heidelberg, the place where the Boer flag was hoisted, is on the High Veld, south-east of Pretoria. Rustenberg, a quiet, rustic village, is situate in a line with

Pretoria, but on the other side of the Magaliesberg. It is consequently warmer than the capital. It is a great place for fruit. Standerton, which was defended pluckily during the war by Major Montague, is an ugly little village between Heidelberg and Lang's Nek. Zeerust lies on the western border, near Betshuanaland. Two small towns, respectively called Bloernhoff and Christiana, are situated on the Keate award, a disputed tract of territory towards the south-east, now finally allotted to the Transvaal.

There are other small settlements in various parts of the country, but they hardly attain to the dignity even of villages. There is also an elevated but fertile region bordering on Swasi-land, inhabited by Scotch farmers, known as New Scotland. A township was in process of formation at the time of the outbreak, but I am informed the project has fallen through.

The natives of the Transvaal belong mainly to the Betshuana family. In the north and north-east they are intermingled with Zulus and Swazies. There are very few natives on the High Veld, but they abound in the Bush Veld. The Loutspansberg and Waterberg districts are densely populated with natives, who have been in a chronic state of warfare with the Boers ever since their advent into the country. The Betshuana are a peaceable race, and if let alone would not interfere with white people; but they were so despoiled, that they took to arms, and at the time of the annexation they had recovered a good portion of their country from the Boers. The native population at the time of the Boer revolt was roughly estimated at about 800,000, as against 40,000 Boers, and 7000 Europeans.

When the Boers first arrived in the country the

greater part of it had been subjugated by Selekatse, the paramount chief of the Matabele. Selekatse was a sub-chief of the Zulus who revolted from Chaka, the great Zulu king, and fled to the Transvaal with a large troop of his follo. ers. The Boers drove him out to the north, where his son, Lo Benguela, now rules over the scattered remnants of the tribe.

CHAPTER II.

'THE OCCUPATION OF THE TRANSVAAL BY THE BOERS.

Dutch settlement in Cape Colony-The ancestors of the Boers of the Transvaal-Cession of the colony to the English-Troubles with the Boers, a legacy of Dutch misrule-The Hayter's Nek affairThe great trek-Reasons for it-Abolition of slavery-Abandonment of the Kei River territory-Reasons alleged in the proclamation of Retief-Reasons alleged by the Transvaal Boers during the war-Wanderings of the Trek-Boers-Their foundation of a republic in Natal, and the annexation of the country by England -The battle of Boomplats-The annexation and retrocession of the Orange River sovereignty-The Boers across the Vaal-Their victories over Selekatse-The annexation by them of the Transvaal-The Sand River Convention.

THE first settlement of white people in South Africa was planted by the Dutch. In 1652, a company of about 100 immigrants landed on the site now occupied by Capetown, under the command of Van Riebeek. They took possession of Table Bay as a place of rendezvous for the ships of the Dutch East India Company, sailing between Europe and the Indies. The company, under whose auspices the expedition had been made, had no idea of creating anything beyond a depôt; and they steadily opposed the efforts of their servants to settle in the back country. They looked upon their employés as mere machines for the supply of water and provisions to the Indian ships, and restricted their intercourse with the natives as

much as possible. But, despite their endeavours, the immigrants from time to time broke the bounds allotted to them, and gradually overran the greater part of what is now known as Cape Colony.

The present Boers of the Transvaal are descended from the settlers brought over by the East India Company to the Cape. But they are not exclusively of Dutch descent. A considerable portion-at least a thirdof them are the descendants of French Huguenots. When the revocation of the edict of Nantes in France took place, a number of Protestant refugees sought shelter in Holland. Several of them were sent by the Dutch Republic to the Cape. There they came under the stern despotism of the company, which speedily crushed out their distinctive language and religious customs. There is nothing now to distinguish them from their Dutch neighbours except their names, such as De Villiers, Joubert, Du Toit, Théron, Naudé, and the like.

In 1795 the Cape was annexed by England. It reverted to the Dutch for a short period, during the years 1802 to 1806, when it was retaken by England. In 1814 the colony was finally ceded by the King of the Netherlands to Great Britain. Its liberation from the tyranny of the despotic East India Company gave a great impetus to its progress. To use the words. of the late Judge Watermeyer, himself of Dutch origin, Every man in the colony, of every hue, was benefited when the incubus of the Dutch East India Company was removed." But the progress was not unchequered. Very early after the British occupation the Boers began to be troublesome.

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The troubles of the English Government were in a great measure due to their predecessors. For many